The genera Eumerus and Merodon (Diptera: Syrphidae) have a high taxonomic diversity (300+ species altogether), but life histories of most species are unknown. In addition, these hoverfly genera are recognised to be pests (ornamental plants and vegetable crops). In this paper, early stages of four hoverfly species are described, Eumerus hungaricus Szilády, 1940, Eumerus nudus Loew, 1848 and Merodon geniculatus Strobl, 1909, from Spain, and Eumerus strigatus Walker, 1859, from California, USA. Larvae of E. nudus were obtained from swollen roots of Asphodelus cerasiferus J. Gay. Larvae of E. hungaricus were found in bulbs of Narcissus confusus Pugsley. The host plant of the examined specimen of Eumerus strigatus is unknown. Larvae of M. geniculatus were reared from bulbs of different species of Narcissus L. Scanning electron microscope imaging was used to study and illustrate the anterior respiratory processes, pupal spiracles and posterior respiratory processes of the new early stages. A compilation of all available information on the early stages and host plants of Eumerus (21 spp.) and Merodon (15 spp) is provided, as well as an identification key to all known larvae/puparia of these genera. Eumerus elavarensis Séguy, 1961 is proposed as a new synonym of E. hungaricus and first data of this species are reported from Austria, Bulgaria, Spain and Turkey. In Eumerus, larvae are alleged to rely on the previous presence of decay organisms, but in the larvae of E. nudus the sclerotisation and size of the mandibular hooks suggest that this larva can generate decay from intact plant tissue.